The Squirrel, The Pole, The Firemen and Me…

Singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata plays catch up online while dealing with being accident prone.

It's official...I am accident prone. I am contemplating writing a book logging my accidents, the trials and tribulations of getting a record out, my strange influx of animal related events and the ever-present appearance of emergency officials in my daily life.

I think I've been watching too many episodes of the Dog Whisperer because when I came upon a baby squirrel flopping in the middle of the road the other day, I was sure I could take control of the situation. Pull car over, jump out, scoop squirrel up in jacket, head to vet. Stunned little buddy (later I name him "Buddy") lay in lap with no evidence of external injuries and was quite peaceful. Little did I know squirrels bite to the bone. I didn't get bit – that's not part of the story, so no worries on that front...We had a connection.

At the vet, I was informed that they do not receive squirrels. So, standing in reception while they gazed at me as if I hit the thing ("No, I didn't fucking hit the squirrel for your information, I came upon him after he'd been hit/ p.s. my cat left your office dead so don't look at me like I'm the killer/ where has your bedside manner gone you putz")…I asked their advice. They suggested finding a 'rehabilitator' – the only "legally issued persons allowed to handle wildlife" (another condemning glance – now I'm breaking the law apparently), letting him back out where I found him (so he could die alone in the snow), or have him euthanized – compliments of said vet. Well, Buddy looked at me and I looked at him and within seconds we were back in my car driving home, illegally.

Buddy lay in the laundry basket resting as I tried to offer him mangos and nuts. He just lay there in shock so eventually I gave him a couple squirts of water from a turkey baster and hopped on the internet in search of nearby "rehabiliators". Found one and next thing I know I'm sitting in a house in a neighboring town with a woman cradling a beautiful pheasant and feeding it mush, pigeons cawing away (squawking/chirping – whatever they do), baby bunnies, a giant bunny the size of a mid-weight dog etc. She carefully explains to me the technique of feeding pheasant and the nature of Buddy's teeth, asks if I've had my rabies shots and shows me a spray that relaxes animals that you can get at health food stores. I ask if it works on humans. She doesn't think so.

So now I'm playing a benefit for NY wildlife in the spring. Go Buddy.

Let's see...In other news. Got into a car accident. Those are always fun. Someone ran a red light and hit a car, that car hit me and my drummer and we swerved into a pole. Airbags went off and what could have been bad was thankfully, not as bad. We walked away from it, although drummer's car has now been totaled. I did get some nifty pictures of ambulance emts and fireman, which I will post to go with state trooper (see previous blog). Fortunately, I loaded them into my computer before I lost my camera. Lord.

So with my busted knee (yoga no mas), sore neck and bump on head, recent hearing loss, and rain pains of broken wrist/ busted chin past – well, I've decided I shouldn't leave the house on any full moons. How's that for a meandering blog..

Xoxoxo
r



Posted by Rachael Yamagata








Rachael's music has had a home on our playlists and in our hearts since her debut release. Be sure to pick up a copy of her first album, "Happenstance" and keep an eye peeled out for Rachael's upcoming release. You can get a sampling of what she's been up to lately at her website www.rachaelyamagata.com